Summary
Barbara Ehrenreich's Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America is a groundbreaking work of undercover journalism that sheds light on the struggles of low-wage workers in the United States. Published in 2001, this New York Times bestseller has sold nearly a million copies and become a modern classic in social commentary. Ehrenreich's firsthand account of working as a waitress, maid, and Walmart employee exposes the harsh realities faced by millions of Americans trying to survive on minimum wage.
Nickel and Dimed has been widely acclaimed for its insight and passion, changing the way many Americans perceive the working poor. It has been featured on numerous “best books” lists, including ranking 13th on The Guardian's list of the 100 best books of the 21st century in 2019, and 57th on the New York Times list of the 100 best books of the 21st century in 2024.
While Nickel and Dimed has not seen a major film or television adaptation, it has influenced popular culture in other ways. In 2007, Ehrenreich appeared in the documentary The American Ruling Class, where she reenacted her experiences as a waitress, accompanied by a musical rendition titled “Nickeled and Dimed.” The book's enduring relevance has also inspired similar works, such as Stephanie Land's 2019 memoir Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay and a Mother's Will to Survive, which features an introduction by Ehrenreich herself.
Plot
In “Nickel and Dimed,” author Barbara Ehrenreich embarks on an undercover journey to investigate the lives of America's working poor. She decides to leave behind her comfortable life as a successful writer and immerse herself in the world of low-wage jobs. Ehrenreich's experiment begins in Florida, where she takes on a job as a waitress, earning a meager $2.43 an hour plus tips.
As her investigation continues, Ehrenreich moves to different parts of the country, taking on various low-paying positions. She works as a maid in Maine, a nursing home aide in Minnesota, and even tries her hand as a Wal-Mart salesperson. Throughout her journey, she attempts to survive on the wages she earns, facing the challenges of finding affordable housing, managing transportation costs, and meeting basic needs.
The author quickly discovers that one job is often not enough to make ends meet. She encounters coworkers who juggle multiple jobs just to keep a roof over their heads. Ehrenreich experiences firsthand the physical and mental toll of these demanding jobs, which often require long hours, grueling work, and little respect from employers or customers.
As her experiment unfolds, Ehrenreich uncovers a hidden world of struggle and resilience among America's working poor. She witnesses the daily challenges faced by millions of Americans who work tirelessly but still struggle to afford basic necessities. The author's journey reveals the harsh realities of a system that often fails to provide a living wage, forcing many to live on the edge of poverty despite their best efforts.
Themes
Working poverty and economic inequality
Hidden costs of low-wage employment
Challenges of surviving on minimum wage
Dignity and resilience of low-wage workers
Critique of welfare reform policies
Exploitation in the service industry
Systemic barriers to economic mobility
Setting
Set against the backdrop of late 1990s America, Nickel and Dimed unfolds during a period of economic prosperity for some, but persistent struggle for many. The book's events take place between spring 1998 and summer 2000, a time when welfare reform was reshaping the landscape for low-wage workers across the country.
Ehrenreich's journey spans several states, offering a cross-section of working-class America. She immerses herself in the daily lives of the working poor in Florida, Maine, and Minnesota. These diverse locations provide a comprehensive view of low-wage work in various settings, from bustling tourist areas to small towns and suburban landscapes.
Within these states, Ehrenreich navigates a variety of workplaces that form the backbone of the service economy. She toils in restaurants, hotels, nursing homes, house-cleaning services, and a Wal-Mart, each environment presenting its own unique challenges and insights into the lives of America's working poor. Through these experiences, she paints a vivid picture of the often-invisible world of minimum wage labor in turn-of-the-millennium America.
Key Figures
Barbara Ehrenreich: The author and main character of the book. She goes undercover as a low-wage worker to investigate the lives of America's working poor. Ehrenreich takes on various jobs including waitressing, housekeeping, and retail work. She experiences firsthand the struggles and challenges faced by low-wage workers in different parts of the country.
Ted: A manager at the restaurant where Ehrenreich works as a waitress in Florida. He is often stressed and demanding, representing the pressures faced by both workers and lower-level management in the service industry.
Holly: A fellow waitress Ehrenreich befriends in Florida. Holly struggles to make ends meet and lives in her car, exemplifying the housing difficulties faced by many low-wage workers.
Gail: A co-worker at the housekeeping job in Maine. Gail is hardworking and resilient, but faces constant financial struggles and health issues.
Melissa: A young single mother Ehrenreich meets while working at Wal-Mart in Minnesota. Melissa's situation highlights the challenges of balancing childcare and low-wage work.
George: The stern cleaning supervisor at The Maids housekeeping service in Maine. He represents the often rigid and demanding nature of management in low-wage jobs.
Pete: A kind-hearted co-worker at Wal-Mart who helps Ehrenreich navigate her job. His friendliness shows the camaraderie that can develop among co-workers in difficult work environments.
Quick facts
The book was originally expanded from an article Barbara Ehrenreich wrote for Harper's Magazine in 1999.
Ehrenreich took on low-wage jobs in three different states: Florida, Maine, and Minnesota.
The events described in the book took place between spring 1998 and summer 2000.
Ehrenreich worked as a waitress, hotel maid, house cleaner, nursing home aide, and Walmart employee during her experiment.
The book spent two years on the New York Times bestseller list.
In 2019, Nickel and Dimed was ranked 13th on The Guardian's list of the 100 best books of the 21st century.
The book's title is a play on the phrase “nickel and dime,” meaning to charge or spend small amounts that add up over time.
Ehrenreich has a Ph.D. in cell biology, which she mentions to highlight the contrast with her undercover work.
A companion book called Bait and Switch, focusing on white-collar jobs, was published in 2005.
The book was adapted into a documentary segment in the 2007 film The American Ruling Class, featuring Ehrenreich herself.
About the Author
Barbara Ehrenreich (1941-2022) was an influential American author, journalist and political activist. Best known for her 2001 book Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America, Ehrenreich wrote 21 books over her career exploring issues of social justice, labor rights, and economic inequality. She was a prominent figure in the Democratic Socialists of America and received numerous awards for her writing, including a National Magazine Award and the Erasmus Prize.
Born in Montana to a family of union supporters, Ehrenreich initially pursued a career in science, earning a PhD in cellular immunology. However, she soon turned to journalism and social activism, becoming a freelance writer and working with various women's health and feminist organizations in the 1970s. Her work frequently appeared in major publications like The New York Times, The Atlantic, and Harper's Magazine.
Ehrenreich's breakthrough came with Nickel and Dimed, in which she went “undercover” working minimum wage jobs to explore whether it was possible to survive on such low pay in America. The book became a bestseller and is considered a classic of social justice literature. She continued to write on topics like positive thinking culture, the nature of joy, and America's obsession with longevity in subsequent works.
In addition to her writing, Ehrenreich remained politically active throughout her life. She endorsed Ralph Nader in 2000 and Barack Obama in 2008, founded the Economic Hardship Reporting Project to support journalism about poverty, and served as an honorary co-chair of the Democratic Socialists of America. Ehrenreich passed away in 2022, leaving behind a powerful legacy of investigative journalism and advocacy for working-class Americans.
